Jefferson in Ashe County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Charters of Freedom

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 5, 2025

1. The Charters of Freedom Marker

Inscription.
The original Charters of Freedom are on display in The Rotunda at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

The Declaration of Independence was adopted July 4, 1776.

The United States Constitution was adopted September 17, 1787, ratified in 1788, and went into effect March 4, 1789.

The Bill of Rights was proposed September 25, 1789, as 12 amendments; ten were ratified December 15, 1791. The remaining two were not ratified but appear on the original document. These first Ten Amendments ratified are our Bill of Rights.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Patriots & Patriotism. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1776.

Location. 36° 25.121′ N, 81° 27.558′ W. Marker is in Jefferson, North Carolina, in Ashe County. It is on Government Circle south of East Main Street (U.S. 221), on the right when traveling south. The marker is at the far right of the display cases, which are located to the north of the Ashe County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 150 Government Cir, Jefferson NC 28640, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in North Carolina’s and he Mountains in the High Country. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ashe County War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Asa Gray (approx. half a mile away); Old Ashe County War Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Life in Old Jefferson (approx. 0.6 miles away); Ashe County Victory Garden (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Virginia Creeper in Ashe County (approx. 2.2 miles away); The Virginia Creeper in West Jefferson (approx. 2.2 miles away); Lansing School (approx. 6.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jefferson.

The Charters of Freedom Marker and display cases image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 5, 2025

2. The Charters of Freedom Marker and display cases

Ashe County Courthouse is in the background.

The Charters of Freedom Marker - replica display of the Declaration of Independence image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 5, 2025

3. The Charters of Freedom Marker - replica display of the Declaration of Independence

The Charters of Freedom Marker - replica display of the U.S. Constitution image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 5, 2025

4. The Charters of Freedom Marker - replica display of the U.S. Constitution

The Charters of Freedom Marker - replica display of the Bill of Rights image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, April 5, 2025

5. The Charters of Freedom Marker - replica display of the Bill of Rights

Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 11, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 11, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.